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National Sample Census Begins

China began its third one-percent national census at 12 a.m. on November 1, and will sample a nationwide population of more than 13 million, according to the National Statistics Bureau.

China, the most populous country with more than 1.3 billion people, has conducted five national censuses in the years since 1949. The Chinese Government, in the 1980s, began using the one-percent National Census sampling technique.

The upcoming sample census will focus on China's "floating population" (migrants), newborns and the deceased, according to Zhang Weimin, deputy director of the bureau and a member of the leading group in charge of the census.

The census, the third of its kind, will cover about 90,000 residential quarters in 2,800 counties, cities and districts of the country's 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

The census takers will conduct in-house registrations in every household of residential quarters included in the survey, Zhang said.

Data processing will begin on November 16, which includes data collection, coding, data input, and news releases, according to Xinhuanet.